Author: Rasmita Jena

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, French President Francois Mitterrand reassured the US, saying that Europe was far from having its own defense. There were too many obstacles: the UK was hesitant, Ireland was neutral, and reunited Germany seemed lost on what role it should play.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and things are starting to change in Germany with a new leader, Friedrich Merz. He wants Europe to take defense more seriously, especially since the US, under President Donald Trump, seems less reliable to help against threats like Russia. “America First” is pushing Europe to work together on defense, much like how Mitterrand once helped set the groundwork for the euro in exchange for Germany’s reunification.

Although Merz’s new coalition is just getting started, he’s pushing for Germany to spend big—up to €200 billion (about $210 billion) —to strengthen its defense. He’s sounding alarms about the urgent need for action, noting that time is running out. This could lead Germany to change its old ways of being careful with money and focus more on spending for security.

Rethinking its defense spending could lead to new partnerships, especially in areas like sharing nuclear capabilities with France. Experts say that a strong partnership between Germany’s financial resources and France’s defense goals could emerge from this new thinking.

This shift is particularly important now as Germany and France tackle challenges like economic slowdown, rising right-wing politics, and the need for more unity in Europe. Leaders like Mario Draghi have urged Germany to take action amid growing concerns over security and trade competitiveness.

Merz’s approach could also strengthen ties with countries like Poland, which has become a major defense spender in Europe. Together, France, Germany, and Poland could create a united front against external pressures.

However, some people still worry about Germany returning to a more powerful role in Europe, especially after previous leaders were criticized for strict economic policies. But there is a sense of optimism that Europe is starting to move forward.

The son of Dong Yuyu, a Chinese journalist in prison, is asking for his father’s release after he was sentenced to seven years for spying. Dong Yuyu was taken by the police in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. His son, Dong Yifu, spoke at the National Press Club in Washington and said his dad plans to appeal his conviction. He argued that the meetings with the diplomat were about journalism, not spying.

“It’s about press freedom and human rights,” said Dong Yifu. China’s Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comments on this case.

Dong Yuyu used to be a top editor at Guangming Daily, a newspaper that has become less open to new ideas over the years. He wrote about democracy and political reform, but those topics are now discouraged by the government. Dong Yuyu had also studied at Harvard University and in Japan.

His arrest shocked many in China, especially journalists and diplomats, because it’s normal for reporters to meet with diplomats when gathering news. His son mentioned that in court, it was revealed that eight meetings with Japanese diplomats were used as evidence against his father.

In November, a Chinese court sentenced him to seven years for espionage. The former U.S. Ambassador, Nicholas Burns, stated that the conviction was unfair.

Japan’s Assistant Foreign Secretary, Masashi Mizobuchi, said that all meetings at the Japanese Embassy in China are standard diplomatic work. The Japanese government expressed concern that the ruling would harm friendly exchanges between people in China and Japan.

Despite being in prison, Dong Yuyu is staying healthy. His son said he does 200 push-ups and leg raises every day, but he only gets a few hours of sunlight each year and is not allowed to see his wife. Dong Yuyu can meet with his lawyer once a month, who brings him letters from his wife. His father also wrote a 45-page letter for his appeal.

Recently, the U.S. State Department called for Dong Yuyu’s immediate release. Reporters Without Borders, an organization promoting press freedom, reported that China has more than 100 journalists in prison and often accuses them of espionage to silence them.

On Tuesday, federal workers found themselves in a tricky situation after Elon Musk gave them a new chance to explain their jobs. He warned that if they couldn’t justify their roles, they might lose their jobs. This message confused many workers because previous guidance said responding was optional.

Some workers, who had enough of the uncertainty, chose to leave their jobs. Twenty-one employees from Musk’s newly renamed Department of Government Efficiency (originally the U.S. Digital Service) quit in protest. They felt it was wrong to use their tech skills to cut important government services.

Musk sent an email to all workers asking them to summarize what they did in the past week, but as the deadline approached, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) told workers they didn’t have to respond. Musk, however, responded by saying that ignoring the email would count as quitting. He later said workers would get another chance to reply, and if they didn’t, they might face termination.

Even within the Trump administration, there was confusion about what to do. Some department heads encouraged workers to wait before replying, while others pushed them to respond. The White House press secretary insisted everyone was working together, even though reports suggested that there were disagreements among Trump loyalists.

As the chaos continued, the OPM planned to cut down its staff, reducing the number from 64 to just under a dozen people. Musk’s efforts to cut jobs extended beyond OPM; more than 20,000 workers have already lost their jobs, with many more likely facing layoffs.

The IRS was also warned to prepare for more job cuts soon. Musk’s close advisor even told IRS leaders that he believed fewer employees would be enough to carry out the agency’s tasks. The Department of Interior received orders to reduce its workforce by as much as 40%. The situation is creating a lot of stress for federal workers, emphasizing the real possibility of widespread layoffs across various agencies.